Lin Nai did not hesitate either. He got up and followed.
Afterward.
Lin Nai watched Kafka go on an unstoppable rampage while he drank milk tea and began OMOing.
By the time they reached the Base Zone Reception Center and met up with Silver Wolf.
He had rested enough as well.
"Phew..."
"Lin Nai, are you okay?" Silver Wolf quickly walked up to Lin Nai and held out her hand.
"Ah... I'm fine. Also, don't just touch me!"
Lin Nai instinctively took two steps back, avoiding her completely restless, wandering hand.
"I'm just worried about you. What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid you'll take advantage of me."
"Tch, as if I care."
Kafka stood to the side, smiling as she watched the two interact.
Oh my.
How interesting~
Hmm... but did you really not care, Silver Wolf?
"Let's go. To the room where the Stellaron is being kept."
"..."*2
Silver Wolf: You told him?
Kafka: No. How could I?
Lin Nai: Is there a chance I figured it out myself?
Silver Wolf: ???
Silver Wolf: How did you join our internal channel?
Lin Nai: You mean communicating with our eyes? We did that plenty back then. Did you forget?
Silver Wolf: Oh, right.
Silver Wolf puffed out her cheeks. If she had known, she never would have taught Lin Nai back then.
It was like using Morse code to communicate with your deskmate during an exam, only to discover the proctor knew it too.
"Let's go. I'll have to keep an eye on you two from here on out, so you don't pull off something huge."
Even if he did not lead the way, these two could still find the Stellaron.
It was only a matter of how long it would take. Better to get it over with quickly.
It would save him the trouble too.
The Trailblazer's birth was rather important.
"Lin Nai... I..."
Silver Wolf bit her lip and looked at Lin Nai walking ahead, wanting to say something.
But her mind was completely blank.
She had no idea how to start a conversation.
Kafka still wore a smile as she watched Silver Wolf awkwardly try to say something without knowing how to begin.
What a pity this was not a good opportunity, or she definitely would have taken out her phone for a picture.
"Alright, it's not like I don't know you." Lin Nai waved a hand. "I trust you, Silver Wolf."
"I've always trusted you, just like I did years ago. No matter what it was."
"Is that so... Then between me and Herta, who do you trust more?"
"Huh?"
Lin Nai's smile froze as he stared at Silver Wolf in confusion.
Had anyone ever told her that she was really good at ruining the mood?
That was basically like asking: if she and Herta fell into the water, who would he save?
"Pfft..."
Kafka finally could not hold it in and laughed, drawing both of their attention.
"It's nothing. Continue." Kafka covered her mouth with a smile and gestured for them to continue.
Lin Nai and Silver Wolf rolled their eyes in unison and stopped paying attention to the woman behind them.
Kafka: Child, on the day you were born...
Interastral Peace Corporation.
The place where the Stellaron was stored.
Silver Wolf got to work, beginning to remove the Stellaron's security measures.
Lin Nai stood to one side, wanting to speak but holding back.
How should he put this?
He knew the password.
But seeing Silver Wolf looking so serious, he decided to forget it and just stand there OMOing.
At times like this, all he needed to do was smile.
Smile.
Kafka walked up to the Stellaron, removed it from its containment unit, and came to Silver Wolf's side.
Silver Wolf tapped at the virtual screen. "The vessel is ready. You decide."
Silver Wolf pulled up an image, which Kafka caught in her hand as she looked at the two figures on the screen.
"Elio said this choice would change many things."
"Elio also said that the person who made this choice had to be you."
Silver Wolf took out some bubble gum from her pocket and popped it into her mouth.
"Lin Nai, want some candy?" Silver Wolf looked at the person beside her.
"No imported ones, thanks." Lin Nai used the words he had used to turn Silver Wolf down in the bedroom.
"Go to hell! Of course not! Even if you wanted some later, I wouldn't give you any!"
Silver Wolf rolled her eyes and took another piece of bubble gum from another pocket, tossing it over.
Lin Nai caught it, unwrapped it, and put it into his mouth. "It's fine. When the time comes, I'll just need you to record it. Just listening to the sound of you showering would let me eat three bowls of rice."
"Are you a pervert?!"
Silver Wolf could not keep her composure. Her cool little face completely cracked as she angrily threw a punch at him.
Lin Nai took a step back. "Hey~ You can't hit me."
Silver Wolf raised her middle finger and could not be bothered with this childish grown man anymore.
"Lin Nai."
"?" Lin Nai looked at Kafka curiously. "What is it?"
"I'm curious. Do you like girls or boys?"
"?"
Lin Nai looked utterly confused at her words, tilting his head as he looked over. "Uh... Kafka, what do you mean?"
"Your future child."
"Either is fine."
"What a casual answer."
Silver Wolf complained, blowing a bubble, though her gaze remained fixed on Lin Nai.
Kafka smiled and shook her head before reaching out and selecting a female vessel.
"Should we give her a new name?" Silver Wolf asked.
"Hmm... Lin Nai, what do you think?"
Kafka tossed the question to Lin Nai. She had chosen the vessel; anyone could choose the name.
"Huh? This concerns me too?" Lin Nai blanked out for a moment upon hearing Kafka's words.
"How did that saying go? Oh... to give you a sense of involvement."
"That feels kind of strange." Lin Nai rubbed his chin. "You really want me to do it?"
Kafka and Silver Wolf nodded.
"Galactic Baseballer?"
"???"*2
"Idiot, we're naming a person, not asking you to come up with a username!" Silver Wolf glared at him.
"I know, I know. I was just joking to liven up the mood." Lin Nai waved a hand. "Silver Wolf, you don't have a single humor germ in you."
"You mean cells?"
"Seems like it?"
Lin Nai looked at the female vessel. So this girl would become the famous Trailblazer in the future.
"Then let's call her... Stelle."
Stelle.
Not Simba.
Kafka froze for a moment at his words, then smiled.
The same as her previous name?
Kafka turned the image in her hand into a cube and tossed it toward the virtual screen in front of Silver Wolf.
Silver Wolf lightly pressed down.
A body gradually appeared, as if it were being 3D-printed.
Holding the Stellaron, Kafka gazed gently at Stelle and asked Silver Wolf beside her.
"How much... does she remember?"
"At least she'll remember you."
Kafka gave a soft laugh, gently wrapping an arm around Stelle. Her other hand, holding the Stellaron, rested against the vessel's chest.
"It's time to wake up."
The Stellaron, brimming with golden light, entered Stelle's body.
Not long after.
Stelle opened her eyes and stood there blankly, looking at the three people before her.
Lin Nai fell into thought.
For some reason, a sentence surfaced in his mind.
Kafka:
Child, on the day you were born, your name quietly echoed through Herta Space Station: Stelle.
Before you continue